1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Widely known Christian leaders

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by thjplgvp, Nov 28, 2006.

Top Posters
  1. thjplgvp

    thjplgvp Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2006
    Messages:
    978
    Likes Received:
    25
    I don’t know how many of you know who George Barna is but below is posted the link for a recent study he did on why Christian leaders are not widely known. He culminates the survey/article with the following statement.

    “The survey statistics suggest that perhaps Christian individuals are more attuned to matters of culture and entertainment than to matters of faith,” the researcher continued. “People pay attention to what they deem important. These figures may be another indicator that millions of Christians invest more of their mental energy in cultural literacy than in biblical literacy.”

    http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=251

    I personally believe that the local New Testament church is the central point of worship for 99% of all believers and it is this fact alone that precludes the average believer from being well informed about religious leaders in the U.S.A.

    I believe the influence of the leadership of a particular church has to be based on their impact within the local community and not the national or international community. For instance what is Mr. Warren’s rating in Los Angeles, or Mr. Dobson’s impact in Colorado?

    Should the criteria for evangelical notoriety be of a local, regional, national or universal concern and why?

    Your thoughts appreciated.

    Thjplgvp
     
    #1 thjplgvp, Nov 28, 2006
  2. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2003
    Messages:
    11,250
    Likes Received:
    0
    Just a simple thought crossed my mind:

    When we are trying to convince the people that we are great, we fail at showing them the greatness of Christ.
     
    #2 tinytim, Nov 28, 2006
  3. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2001
    Messages:
    11,703
    Likes Received:
    2
    When the USA was younger, our religious heritage was more prominent and preachers were more widely known and regarded.

    Today the Christian religion is the one religion which is considered rather nasty by world standards, unless, of course, it is watered down and conforms to the world. Thus, the great majority of preachers who are well-known now are well-known either for their publications or programs, all of which attract attention because of glitz, worldliness, slick operations, etc. Some are that way in such a bizarre and heretical way that they are ridiculed by all but those who are duped. Some are that way in such a business-like manner that people assume that the world and the Christian faith are quite compatible.

    However, solid Bible teaching will not get one 'noticed' in today's world. It will, however, mightily affect those who hear it.
     
    #3 Helen, Nov 28, 2006
  4. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2003
    Messages:
    15,125
    Likes Received:
    1
    I attended a conference at the Olford Center in Memphis, TN a couple years ago and this topic came up in one of the meetings. Heather Olford, wife of the late Stephen Olford, shared this quote that I will always remember:

    "Men who are full of themselves cannot preach a Christ who emptied Himself."
     
    #4 PastorSBC1303, Nov 28, 2006
  5. bobbyd

    bobbyd New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2004
    Messages:
    1,468
    Likes Received:
    1
    Wow...i'll have to remember that one.
     
    #5 bobbyd, Nov 28, 2006
  6. drfuss

    drfuss New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2005
    Messages:
    1,692
    Likes Received:
    0
    Our relationship is with Jesus Christ. Why should we know those who people think are national Christian leaders?

    I think it is a compliment that we don't follow these "national known leaders". They have nothing to do sith our salvation. As we mature in the Lord, leaders become less important in our Christian life.
     
    #6 drfuss, Nov 28, 2006
  7. PeterM

    PeterM Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2006
    Messages:
    487
    Likes Received:
    0
    Seems to me some of this "celebrity" mentality has filtered into the community of faith.

    Rick Warren
    Adrian Rogers
    Billy Graham
    et al
     
    #7 PeterM, Nov 30, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...